How to avoid a parking lot meltdown this holiday season

Did you know that 49% of people said they would take photos or watch videos while driving through a parking lot, according to a National Safety Council survey?

Ah, the holiday season: Full hearts, full stockings… and even fuller parking lots.

During the peak of holiday shopping, safely finding a place to park your car can feel more like a nerve-racking video game than real life. Pedestrians hope to navigate through an impromptu game of Frogger while you dodge obstacles like Mario in a kart race.

Pop-culture references aside, your car (and unfortunately, your body) is in very real danger of incurring scrapes, dings and cringe-worthy crunches. The chaos of distracted drivers circling the lot in search of the perfect spot, drivers backing out and hectic shoppers on foot create the perfect recipe for disaster. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), more than 50,000 crashes occur in parking lots and parking garages each year, causing more than 500 deaths and upwards of 60,000 injuries.

Take precautions to protect yourself and your car from a parking lot faux paus this season.

In addition to increased risk of accidents, you’re also more likely to be a victim of theft during the holidays. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), shopping this season is expected to trump the 10-year average. American consumers plan to spend more than $900 each during the holiday shopping season this year, according to an NRF survey. That’s a lot of loot – and holiday scammers are well aware.

The NRF estimates that 80 percent of shopping center crimes occur in parking facilities. Even more disturbing is that up to half of those incidents may involve violence.

There are several precautions you can take to minimize your risk of theft and/or bodily injury. Holiday hazards: 5 tips for outdoor decor Christmas tree safety tips From the 1960s to now: a history of distracted driving
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